Consequences of Using Your Cell Phone While Driving in Miami

Distracted driving continues to be one of the most common causes of traffic deaths in Miami, FL, and throughout the United States. It is estimated that nine people die each day in crashes involving distracted drivers. Cell phone use is one of the worst forms of distracted driving.

The Miami distracted driving attorneys at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers represent victims injured by distracted drivers. Our team of lawyers has over 100 years of combined legal experience. Since opening our law firm in 2007, we have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for thousands of clients.

We want to help you receive the compensation you deserve after a tragic accident. Call us today to schedule a free consultation at (305) 937-0191 with one of our Florida car accident lawyers.

Table of Contents

How Our Miami Car Accident Lawyers Can Help if You’ve Been Injured in a Distracted Driving Crash

Proving a driver was on a cell phone at the time of the crash is insufficient evidence of causation to win a car accident case. You must prove the driver caused the car crash itself as well as establish other legal elements. Our Miami car accident attorneys at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers understand the law governing these cases and what we need to do to prove your case.

We have considerable experience handling insurance claims and trying car accident cases. Our founding attorney, Sagi Shaked, is double board certified in Trial Law by the Florida Boar and the National Bard of Trial Advocacy. Our lawyers have been recognized for their legal services and client satisfaction by Expertise.com, Super Lawyers, Avvo, The Florida Legal Elite, and many other organizations.

When you hire our top-rated Miami car accident lawyers, you can expect us to:

Complete a thorough investigation into what caused the distracted driving accident
Obtain cell phone records for the at-fault driver
Review and analyze crash reports and police reports
Gather evidence proving fault, including working with expert witnesses as necessary
File insurance claims and handle all matters related to insurance settlements
Determine how much your personal injury claim is worth after documenting your damages
Negotiate top-dollar personal injury settlements
File a lawsuit and argue your case at trial, if needed

Using a cell phone while driving is extremely dangerous. If another driver injured you because of their negligence, we want to help you get the justice you deserve.

Contact our law firm for a free case evaluation from an experienced distracted driving lawyer in Miami, Florida.

Florida Law Regarding Cell Phone Use While Driving

Is it illegal to talk on the phone while driving in Florida? The state does not make it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving, but it does place restrictions on the activity.

For example, Florida law prohibits using phones to send, receive, or read text messages while driving. It is called the Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law. Drivers are prohibited from driving while entering multiple numbers, letters, or symbols into a wireless communications device.

Furthermore, the law prohibits using a wireless communication device in a handheld manner in work or school zones. Violating the laws could result in traffic fines. You can learn more about Miami car accident laws by clicking here.

License Suspension and Increases Insurance Premiums

In addition to traffic fines, you could also lose your driver’s license for using a cell phone while driving in Miami. You might have points assessed against your driver’s license depending on the charges. Whether your driver’s license is suspended depends on how many points you already have against your driving record.

Drivers who receive tickets for using a cell phone while driving could also face higher insurance premiums. Insurance companies understand the link between cell phone use and distracted driving accidents. Therefore, you could be considered a high-risk driver if you receive several tickets for using a cell phone while driving.

Penalties for Distracted Driving Accidents Caused by Cell Phone Use

In addition to paying fines and having points against their license, drivers who cause accidents because they were using their cell phones could be charged with other offenses. They could face misdemeanors or felonies, depending on the severity of the injuries the accident causes. The criminal penalties depend on the charges and the person’s criminal history.

Distracted drivers can also face civil penalties if they injure someone because they were using a cell phone while driving in Miami. If someone sustains serious injuries or dies, the driver who caused the accident can be sued for damages. Damages could include economic and non-economic damages such as:

Past and future medical bills
Rehabilitative therapy
Physical pain and suffering
Emotional distress and mental anguish
Lost wages and benefits
A decrease in earning capacity
Scarring and disfigurement
Disabilities and impairments
Loss of enjoyment of life
Out-of-pocket expenses
Diminished quality of life

If the driver responsible for the crash does not have liability insurance to cover the claim, they could be personally liable for the judgment. The amount of compensation awarded depends on many factors, including the severity of the victim’s injuries.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Miami Distracted Driving Lawyers

Our legal team at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers works hard to recover compensation for the harm caused by a negligent driver. Call our office at (305) 937-0191 to request a free case review from one of our experienced Miami car accident lawyers.

Common Miami Car Accident Claims We Handle

Our law firm handles all types of car accident claims involving: